Latest wildfires in Tasmanian wilderness
Lightning-initiated wildfires have again burnt extensive tracts of wild country and likely destroyed still more areas of irreplaceable fire-sensitive vegetation. The fires continue to burn and may not be fully controlled for months.
Bushwalker accidents and rescues
Upgraded authoritative pre-trip information, ideally provided by the Parks and Wildlife Service, could reduce the chances of some avoidable rescues occurring when walkers get into difficulty because they have not anticipated the challenges of their planned bushwalk.
Cradle Mountain cableway funding
A budget estimates committee of the Tasmanian parliament has been advised that the state wants the federal government to provide most of the estimated $190 million total cost of the proposed Cradle Mountain cableway. The proposed cableway is a sop to the local tourism industry with serious environmental and social impacts rather than a serious proposal to meet an identified need.
Reform of PWS Reserve Activity Assessment process
An overwhelming majority of submissions opposed the Tasmanian Government’s proposal for a statutory Reserve Activity Assessment (RAA) process, the assessment process for developing reserved land and management planning for that land. Now it is proposing that “submissions received will be used to inform a RAA Reform options paper taking feedback into account to determine next steps”. We call for a commitment to releasing the options paper for public comment.
Roaming pigs in northwest Tasmania
A herd of 150 pigs is running wild at Gunns Plains, northwest Tasmania. While these pigs are not officially classed as feral, it makes little difference to the damage they are currently causing and their potential to become a major environmental as well as agricultural threat. The minister has advised the TNPA that there is no apparent feral pig issue, that the roaming pigs are being monitored and that legislative changes will be considered. While it's good that there is some action at state level, we hope the local council will receive the assistance it requires to stop the pigs in their tracks.
Feral deer control
The PWS Report on the 2024 component of the 2023-24 TWWHA deer control project is now available. 306 deer were shot in 2024, and 1017 deer over the two-year program. A properly resourced ongoing culling program is required to prevent feral deer from establishing a permanent population within the TWWHA.